Category Archives: Street

Lakewood, CO Blue-on-Blue is a Safety Reminder

Posted on November 10, 2012 by Randall

I read a CNN news report of a Blue-on-Blue shooting in Lakewood, CO yesterday where one officer accidentally killed another.  Lakewood officers had surrounded a house where shots were reportedly fired by a suspect.  After assisting in detaining three subjects on the front porch, Ofc. James Davies went to the backyard as a rear cover.  Another officer in an adjoining yard could see Davies through a fence, but in the dark did not visually identify him as a police officer.   After giving Davies commands to drop his gun, the other officer fired and killed Davies. Ofc. Davies was in full uniform at the time of the shooting and apparently did … Continue reading →

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Police Field Training and Natural Selection

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Randall

I am no longer an active Field Training Officer, but I am now in charge of them on my shift.  As an FTO supervisor, I had the duty this week of accepting the resignation of one of our recruit officers.  It’s part of our natural selection. For the last twenty-plus years, I have been involved in this drill in one capacity or another.  We hire a nice kid, see him/her through the Academy, mold them further during department familiarization, then introduce them to the real job in a field training car.  Percentages vary class by class, but generally anywhere from 10-50% of our recruits do not make it to being … Continue reading →

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Testing National Police Ammunition’s Simulated Duty Round

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Randall

National Police Ammunition is an ATF licensed South Florida manufacturer of law enforcement ammunition.  NPA specializes in lead-free, frangible ammo and has developed the SDR, or Simulated Duty Round, for police applications. The SDR is designed to mimic the performance of police duty rounds and be an accurate, reliable, and cost effective alternative.  NPA lists some of the following advantages: • Proprietary loading techniques prevents projectiles breaking when chambered which is common with frangible ammunition • Power factor equivalency “Felt” recoil • Line of Sight = Point of Impact • Fully Frangible non jacketed projectile • Reduced ricochet • Available with lead-free, heavy metal free primers (standard primers also available) … Continue reading →

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Bushnell Marine 7X50 Binoculars for Law Enforcement Use

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Randall

Surveillance is a daily component of the job as a law enforcement officer.  A good pair of binoculars and the understanding of how they work are essential to the task.  Bushnell’s Marine 7X50 binoculars are outstanding in this arena.  Why?  That requires a little explanation. Tech alert:  if you don’t want to learn about how binoculars work, too bad. A binocular optic enhances our vision by magnifying the light that enters our eyes.  Binocular vision means having two eyes arranged for stereoscopic viewing, which gives us depth perception. The magnification power of a binocular is the first number, say, 7 in 7X50.  These binoculars have a 7 power (7X) magnification … Continue reading →

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Milspec Plastics’ Cobra Cuff is NTOA Member Approved

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Randall

Milspec Plastics touts their Cobra Cuffs as “the only patented double-locking, foldable, disposable restraint” on the market.  Strong, UV stabilized, and Made in the USA, the Cobra Cuff has a restraining strap riveted to the zip-tie to aid in prisoner control through leverage.  Milspec said their product has a 300+ lbs. assembled tensile strength.  Their latest press release is below. Randall MILSPEC PLASTICS COBRA CUFFS ARE NATIONAL TACTICAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (NTOA) MEMBER TESTED AND RECOMMENDED Asheville, NC (August 2012) – Milspec Plastics, manufacturer of the patented Cobra Cuffs and distributor of additional arrest, riot control and personal security products for law enforcement, corrections, military and professional security agents, has secured … Continue reading →

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NYPD Officers Forced Into Difficult Shooting Scenario

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Randall

My headline was not the one I read on a mainstream media news website.  It said something like, “NYPD Shoots Nine Bystanders Before Killing Suspect.”  Considering  that in a crowd of people, the two officers shot sixteen bullets and hit a gun-wielding homicide suspect nine times at center of mass, I’d say my headline is closer to reality. The suspect, Jeffrey Johnson, is seen at the top center of the video walking toward the left and carrying a briefcase.  Officers Craig Matthews and Robert Sinishtaj enter from the top right.  Johnson was walking from the scene where he had just shot a co-worker five times in the head with a … Continue reading →

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Open Firearms Carry Wastes Officers’ Time

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Randall

I saw this on another blog and it reminded me that there are conservative factions attempting to legalize open carry in Florida. In the densely populated, urban county in which I live, I fear that dwindling police services will have resources drained by these types of calls for service from alarmed citizens. This video is an example of two guys just trying to waste the officers’ time with obstructive discourse. Nice job by the officer. Yeah, we don’t always articulate things perfectly. Just the same, he is courteous and professional in the face of the amateur armed “confrontationalists.” The officer’s function check of what he discovered to be a .22 … Continue reading →

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Pensacola Officer Arrested for Battering DUI Suspect

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Randall

The Pensacola Police Department fired K9 Officer Christopher Geraci for excessive force on Friday, then arrested him for misdemeanor battery in connection with his hit and run/DUI investigation on August 2. Suspect Abbi Bonds struck several cars with her late model Chevy Camaro at 2:30 in the morning.  Her vehicle was disabled with heavy damage and pulled to the side of the road several blocks from the crash scene when Geraci found her. After Geraci orders her back into her car several times, she refuses while continuing to talk on her cell phone.  He attempts to handcuff her.  As he does so, he tries to rotate her against her car.  … Continue reading →

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Safariland/Kona Introduces New Patrol Bike 29er

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Randall

This press release went out after the IPMBA Conference in May.  I recently received another email notification about the bike.  I have some time with Cannondale and Smith & Wesson police mountain bikes under me.  This one has some nice features.  Video attached below from SHOT Show 2012. JACKSONVILLE, Florida – Safariland®, a BAE Systems line of business, announced today at the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) Conference that it is introducing a brand new Patrol Bike product line for the law enforcement market. Safariland has teamed with Kona USA, one of the world’s leading all-terrain bicycle manufacturers, to develop the flagship product in the line, the Safariland®/Kona® Patrol … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc., SHOT Show, Street, Technology | Tagged , | 2 Comments

FLIR Entry Level Thermal Imagers for Law Enforcement

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Randall

FLIR Systems, Inc. has released a new line of thermal imagers that are affordable (by thermal imaging standards).  The PS-series is initially aimed toward the civilian hunting market, but will branch into the law enforcement and maritime markets this year.  The E-series is an industrial use thermal imager with police applications.  Starting prices for the units are $1,999.00 for the PS-series and $2,500.00 for the E-series. I stopped at the FLIR booth at the 2012 SHOT Show and checked out one of their Scout PS24 imagers.  This model is an entry level device, but it has terrific tactical potential. The PS24 has a color LCD viewfinder display that can be … Continue reading →

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Police Back-Up Revolver

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Randall

Predominantly, I carry a back-up revolver on duty.  I have tried auto-pistols in calibers ranging from .380 ACP up to .40 S&W cal.  None of them quite fit my criteria is several ways. Of the autos I own or have tested, the .380’s always seemed too small (in the hand) and a .40 was too much gun (a brick on the ankle).  I want something concealed carry size, but one on which I can find sure purchase.  Grip size and carry considerations are at the forefront of my personal selection process. Besides these, I am concerned about the functioning of a semi-automatic in a truly close quarters fight.  Revolvers fire … Continue reading →

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Flawed Headline: “Lake County Deputies Kill Wrong Suspect”

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Randall

This is an unfortunate set of circumstances.  Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a request for assistance from the Leesburg Police in locating an attempted murder suspect.  The suspect, Jonathan Brown, and his motorcycle were spotted in the Blueberry Hills apartment complex at around 0130 hrs. yesterday. Not knowing where Brown was, deputies went to the apartment closest to the parked motorcycle.  They knocked on the door without announcing that they were the police.  Andrew Scott, the resident, opened the door and pointed a handgun at the deputies.  A deputy shot and killed Scott.  Brown was later found in an adjacent apartment in the same building. Blame is already … Continue reading →

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Death Notification Delivery Tips for Law Enforcement

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Randall

I have had the sad duty of delivering quite a few death notifications in my career.  It is one of the more difficult parts of our job from an emotional standpoint.  For me, the worst part of the notification has to be in the moments as you approach the house, or apartment, or room where the unsuspecting family members are.  They have no idea you are about to change their lives in a very significant way… Knock, knock. Yes? I’m Officer Smith and this is Chaplain Jones.  May we come in? Why, yes– Please have a seat, ma’am.  I am sorry to tell you your son, John, was killed in … Continue reading →

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H&K MP5: The Best CQB Weapon I’ve Ever Kicked to the Curb

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Randall

I carried a 9mm Heckler & Koch MP5A2 on SWAT operations and patrol from 1990 until 2009.  My gun was #364 and she was my assigned weapon the whole time.  Together, we went on hundreds of callouts, buy-busts, and warrant services over the years. I kept #364 stone stock, except for the Surefire light kit up front.  That’s all the technology I needed for close quarters battle.  I loved the three point sling, the curved thirty round mags, SEF trigger group, and the left-side charging handle.  The adjustable diopter rear sight and front hooded post were simple and fast to employ. I could change those 30 round coupled mags in … Continue reading →

Posted in Firearms, Street, SWAT | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

When the Police Need to Break Glass…

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Randall

You need to have the right information and tools if you are going to break a glass window or door to make an exigent entry into a structure or to rescue a trapped motorist.  There are three types of glass you will encounter:  tempered glass, non-tempered glass, and laminated glass. Tempered glass is special heat-treated form of glass.  Tempered glass is used where there is a likelihood of human contact and as such is made to shatter into small ¼” pieces when broken.  The small pieces are not very sharp and are relatively safe to handle. Non-tempered glass is a different animal.  When broken, non-tempered glass makes large, irregular, jagged … Continue reading →

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